Sometimes I have to pinch myself.
Back in 2020, I was invited to the @womenofyear lunch in recognition of my volunteering work. (A real honour with a 70 year history behind it). And although COVID and months of lockdown meant everything had to happen online, I still remember it very fondly.
Ever since, as part of the Alumnae club, I have continued to enjoy extraordinary experiences while meeting the many other women who are part of the network. For instance, on Monday, I was able to join a private visit to the Tower of London , guided by none other than Beefeater Yeoman Serjeant AJ Clarke (the Tower’s first female Yeoman Serjeant!). Such a brilliant evening.
We wandered the grounds, learned about the Tower's fascinating history and saw the display of the 30,000 ceramic poppies just before they were removed the day after, Armistice day.
We ended the visit at The Keys, the Tower’s private pub (built within the wall) listening to stories about Military Women at the Tower and the behind-the-scenes efforts behind last year’s D-Day celebrations.
As always, I spoke with many interesting women who are working and volunteering across many disciplines and left with renewed energy.
A Note on History: The poppies were part of the iconic 2015 display of ceramic flowers in the grounds (to mark 100 years since the start of WW1), brought back to the Tower to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2. The new installation aimed at inspiring reflection, something the world needs a lot more of ,for sure.
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